Hairsetting apparatus having means for moistening the surface of the hair rollers

ABSTRACT

A hairsetter having hair rollers heated by support pins on which the hair rollers are mounted, is provided. The hairsetter has a moistening chamber in which one or more rollers can be positioned after they are heated. The moistening chamber has means such as a spray nozzle which is connected to a reservoir containing a hair treatment liquid. When a roller is placed in the moistening chamber, a pump mechanism is activated to spray the hair treatment liquid in a fine mist onto the surface of the hair roller.

United States Patent 1' Kelmann et a].

[451 July 31, 1973 HAIRSETTING APPARATUS HAVING MEANS FOR MOISTENING THE SURFACE OF THE HAIR ROLLERS [75] inventors: Erik Kelrnann, Jerslev; Rasmus Krohn, Kalundbourg, both of Denmark [73] Assignee: Bristol Meyers Company, New York,

[22] Filed: Sept. 3, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 177,746

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 9, 1970 Denmark 4642/70 [52] U.S. Cl. 132/33 [51] Int. Cl A451! 2/12 [58] Field of Search 132/9-33, 88.5, 88.7, 39-42; 2l9/27l, 359, 222

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,493,722 2/1970 Popeil 2l9/222 ll/l955 6/1966 Blann l32/88.5 Jorgensen 219/222 Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-Gregory E. McNeil] Attorney-William F. Moss, III et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A hairsetter having hair rollers heated by support pins on which the hair rollers are mounted, is provided. The hairsetter has a moistening chamber in which one or more rollers can be positioned after they are heated. The moistening chamber has means such as a spray nozzle which is connected to a reservoir containing a hair treatment liquid. When a roller is placed in the moistening chamber, a pump mechanism is activated to spray the hair treatment liquid in a fine mist onto the surface of the hair roller.

17 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL 3 1 I915 sum 1 BF 2 HAIRSETTING APPARATUS HAVING MEANS FOR MOISTENING THE SURFACE OF THE HAIR ROLLERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Recently, heated hairsetters have gained great acceptance in the marketplace. Several different types of such hairsetters are commercially available, one of which employs hair rollers which are heated by a number of electrical heating pins mounted on a base. The hair rollers are filled with a heat storage material to retain the heat imparted to them by the pins. Such a hairsetter is shown in U.S. Pat. No. RE 26,766 to Jorgensen. Other hairsetters also are commercially available in which the rollers are heated by steam rather than by an internal heating pin. These hairsetters not only heat the hair rollers by use of the steam, but also deposit a film of moisture on the surface of the rollers. One hairsetter of this type is shown in US. Pat. No. 3,565,083 to Popiel. Another hairsetter which is commercially available under the name CLAIROL KIND- NESS CUSTOM CARE Hairsetter employs a combination of steam and heating pins to provide rollers which are heated and have a film of moisture on the exterior roller surfaces. This latter type of hairsetter also can employ a hair treatment liquid in preference to water as the liquid which is vaporized and deposited on the surfaces of the rollers.

Hairsetters providing heated hair rollers which have a moisture coating on their surface have gained great popularity. However, hairsetters which employ steam have the drawback, as any unit employing steam, that there is a danger, or at least a fear, that the hot steam produced might injure the user. Furthermore, there is the drawback that if a liquid other than water is to be used, the constituents of that liquid must be volatile at approximately the same temperature as water, or lower, or they will not be vaporized by the heat generated and carried to the surface of the hair roller. Furthermore, if constituents of the liquid which are nonvolatile are used, they will tend to clog any small orifices present in the device, if they become entrained in the vapor.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a hairsetter having heated hair rollers on which a moisture coating is applied by a spray generated without the use of heat. Since heat is not employed to apply the moisture, no steam is generated and, thus, the dangers, or the fears aroused by the use of steam are not present. Additionally, hair treatment liquids can be used which are not volatile at temperatures comparable to that of water, and thus, the problem of non-volatilized constituents of the treatment liquid clogging small orifices in the apparatus is avoided. Furthermore, as will be explained in greater detail below, as a result of the way in which the moisture is applied in the hairsetter apparatus of the invention, it is possible to apply moisture to one, two or as many hair rollers as the user desires without the need to apply moisture to all of the rollers.

The hairsetter of the invention comprises a housing, support means for holding a plurality of hair rollers in the housing, means for heating the hair rollers while positioned within the housing, and spray means communicating with a source of supply of a liquid and adapted to direct atomized, dispersed or vaporized liquid in the form of a mist-like spray at one or more selected rollers, said spray means, including means for mechanically atomizing, dispersing or vaporizing the liquid to be applied to the roller surface without heating the liquid to thereby generate vapor.

GENERAL DISCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As indicated above, in this invention, rollers are moistened by use of an atomized, dispersed or vaporized mist-like spray of liquid onto the surface of the hair rollers. This spray is preferably applied after the rollers have been heated. However, if so desired, the spray can be applied after the rollers have been heated to somewhat less than their preferred operating temperature but before they are completely ready to use.

The spray is preferably applied in a moistening chamber in which, one, two or more rollers can be placed after they are heated. In the preferred embodiment of the hairsetter of the invention, the moistening chamber comprises an enclosure having a central cavity for receiving a roller; spray nozzles are positionedat the interior of the chamber or cavity. These spray nozzles are positioned to direct the mist-like spray onto the surface of a hair roller when placed in the chamber.

The moistening chamber can take any shape and can accomodate any number of rollers. In fact, the moisten-. ing chamber can be coextensive with the heating chamber, i.e., the chamber in which the rollers are held during heating so that all of the rollers are moistened at once after heating. However, it is preferred, that the chamber be distinct from the heating chamber and only accomodate one or a small number of rollers at one time. In this way, the user can select how many rollers will be moistened and how many will not be moistened and there will be no waste of treatment liquid.

The moistening chamber generally is formed as a part of the overall housing of the assembly. However, the moistening chamber can be a separate unit adapted to fit on, or be attached to or otherwise associated with the hairsetter apparatus. However, no mechanical connection, in use, between the heating mechanism and the moistening chamber is required.

As noted above, the means for applying the mist-like spray to the surface of the rollers includes means for mechanically atomizing, dispersing or vaporizing the treatment liquid. The terms atomizing, dispersing and vaporizing" as used herein include any method or means of holding, suspending, entraining, carrying and delivering moisture or other liquids onto the surface of an object such as a roller in a finely divided form, in a gas environment, such as a mist-like or wet droplet spray. The term mechanically" as applied to atomizing, dispersing or vaporizing as used herein means any method or means for accomplishing the holding, suspending, entraining, carrying and delivering of the liquid as defined above which does not involve the application of heat to the liquid to raise it to its normal boil-v ing temperature. For example, a liquid can be atomized by forcing or drawing it through a small orifice under pressure in the presence of a gas. This is commonly done with perfumes and liquid cleansers. The pressure can be applied by a simple pump mechanism which di-. rectly acts on the liquid or by passing a gas over the liquid at a rapid rate in a narrow region so as to reduce the pressure over it and draw it into the gas stream. It is also possible to employ a pressurized gas or carrier such as is done in an aerosol container to force the liquid through a nozzle and atomize it for delivery. A liquid can also be mechanically formed into an atomized or dispersed mist-like spray by simply passing air such as by use of a fan or blower against and across the surface of the liquid. This will cause a portion of the liquid to become entrained in the high volume gas flow pro ducing a fine mist-like spray. Such a mechanism does not require a spray nozzle. It is also possible to cause a liquid to vaporize and then form a spray by reducing the pressure over it, such as by employing a vacuum pump and then flowing this super saturated gas through a nozzle into an environment in which the moisture can condense. Atomizing or dispersing the liquid in a gas are preferred to vaporizing a liquid since in atomizing or dispersing a liquid no change of state is required as is the case when a liquid is vaporized and, therefore, generally, less energy need be used. Other methods and associated devices for atomizing, dispersing or vaporizing a liquid can be used. However, none of the mechanisms and methods referred to above employ heat to boil the liquid, or raise the temperature of the treatment liquid to a point where it could ever possibly cause injury, or at least the fear of injury.

The mist-like spray can be actuated manually by pressing a button or actuator knob which opens a valve releasing a pressurized spray onto the surface of the roller in the moistening chamber. The spray can also be actuated automatically by means such as a switch or sensing mechanism positioned in the moistening chamber and responsive to the placement of a hair roller into the chamber thereby releasing or opening the valve mechanism to permit the spray to pass onto the surface of the roller. In instances where a pre-pressurized liquid is not used, the spray can be simultaneously generated and released onto the surface of the roller by a pump mechanism. Pump mechanisms, such as a piston pump or a bellows pump or a diaphram pump, are suitable and can be actuated manually or by the roller as it is placed under manual force into the moistening cham' ber. A bellows pump is preferred because of its low cost and reliability.

In most instances, one or more nozzles will be provided in the chamber to direct the spray onto the surface of the roller. However, in some cases, depending on how the spray is generated, slots or guide openings or vents can be used to direct the spray onto the roller surface. When a pump is employed, it is possible, and in fact preferred, to use a type of pump in which a metered quantity of liquid is delivered on each pumping stroke so that a precise desired quantity of liquid can be dispensed onto the surface of the hair roller to provide the correct amount of liquid required. The spray nozzles or guides can be mounted in the walls of the moistening chamber, and can be directed at an oblique angle to the surface of the roller so as to impart a turning or rotating force on the hair roller and cause it to rotate in the chamber. This will insure that uniform moistening of the surface of the roller results. In this embodiment, it is preferred that rollers of the type having a central cavity are employed, and that these rollers be mounted on a pin in the chamber so that the rollers can freely turn when the spray is directed at an angle to their surface. Such rollers are shown in US. Pat. RE No. 26,766 to Jorgensen, and the overall construction of the Jorgensen roller and the heating apparatus for the rollers is particularly suited for use in this invention. Additionally, the spray nozzles or guides are perferably pointed downwardly toward the central cavity of the chamber so as to keep the liquid spray in the chamber. In an embodiment wherein a pressurized aerosol container is used, it is possible merely to have a prepackaged aerosol cartridge filled with a conditioning liquid and a pressurizing gas. This cartridge can be connected in an easily detachable manner to the spray nozzles via a connecting pipelines or tubing. A valve mechanism, which can be either associated with the aerosol cartridge or with the line intermediate the cartridge and the nozzles, can be used to control the flow of the conditioning liquid from the aerosol container to the hair rollers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a hairsetting apparatus having a spray device in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view partially in cross-section of another embodiment of a mechanism for spraying a conditioning liquid on a hair roller in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view partially in cross-section of still another embodiment of a mechanism for spraying a conditioning liquid on a hair roller in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view partially in cross-section of still another embodiment of a mechanism for spraying a conditioning liquid on a hair roller in accordance with the invention, and,

FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5.

In FIG. 1, a hairsetter apparatus in accordance with the invention is shown. The apparatus includes a housing 1 having a lid la. A number of hair rollers 2 are supported on a corresponding number of heating posts (not shown) in the housing. The heating posts serve to position the rollers in the housing and heat the rollers to a temperature suitable for setting hair. Positioned forwardly of the rollers in the housing are two receptacles 15 for accommodating hair pins, clips, and the like for holding the hair firmly in position on the hair rollers. To one side of the housing a moistening chamber 3 is provided. The moistening chamber 3 is best shown by reference of FIG. 2. The moistening chamber has a central passage 4 adapted to accommodate any of the hair rollers 2 supported on the posts. The central passage in the moistening chamber 6 opens into a cupshaped receptacle 5. The cup-shaped receptacle 5 is provided with internal passages 5a which communicate via a pumping mechanism 6 with a reservoir 8 in which a liquid such as a hair conditioning liquid or water is stored. The pumping mechanism 6 is slideable with respect to the cup 5 and a pressure-sensitive knob 7 serves as the mechanism which actuates the pumping mechanism. The cup 5 is provided with a seris of nozzles 9 which point interiorly toward the center of the cup and thereby toward the roller 2.

When a roller is placed through the central passage 4 and into the cup 5, and pressed downwardly, the cup 5 moves downwardly and bears against the pressure switch 7. This actuates the pump mechanism thereby forcing liquid from the reservoir 8, through the pumping mechanism 6, and the internal passages 50 of the cup 5, through the nozzles 9 and onto the surface of the roller. The cup 5 normally can be kept in an unactuated position by a spring or other bias means not shown. In this instance, the pumping mechanism is a vacuum pump, electrically operated. However, as noted above, many other pump mechanisms can also be used.

In FIG. 3, another embodiment of a spray mechanism which employs a cup which is axially movable, is shown. In this embodiment, the distance a represents, in a schematic manner, the distance the cup is moved when the roller is pressed downwardly into the cup to actuate the spray mechanism. The roller 2 in this embodiment is supported on a central pin 10 and the nozzles 9 are positioned beneath a lip formed on the upper edge of the cup. The nozzles in this embodiment direct the spray downwardly and inwardly onto the surface of the roller so that the spray is completely contained within the cup. As noted earlier, it is possible for the nozzles 9 to project the spray at an angle to the axis of the roller so that the spray rotates the roller about the axial support. In this embodiment, the nozzles so direct the spray as to rotate the roller. However, in order to allow the roller to be free to turn, in this embodiment, the upper edge of the cup 5 protrudes from the top of the moistening chamber so as to be accessible to be depressed for actuating the spray rather than by forcing the roller against the pin and preventing it thereby from rotating when the spray is directed at its surface.

In FIG. 4, another embodiment of a mechanism for directing a spray onto the surface of the roller is shown. In this embodiment, the roller is supported on a pin 10, which is axially movable apart from the cup 5 as contrasted to the pin in the previous embodiment. Movement of the pin in this instance actuates the spray mechanism in the cup 5 by a switch (not shown); this can be done by manually depressing the roller 2 against the pin 10 which will, as in the embodiment described above, cause actuation of the pumping mechanism driving liquid through the internal passages to and through the spray nozzles 9 onto the hair roller.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, another embodiment of the spray mechanism is shown, In this embodiment, the cup and the support posts are both fixed in position and are not movable for actuating the pumping mechanism. Rather, a manually operated piston pumping mechanism 12 is provided with plungers 11 which are positioned exteriorly of the moistening chamber for easy grasp of the user. The pumping mechanism 12 communicates with a reservoir for the liquid, and also communicates via a pipeline 13, with the nozzles 9. In this embodiment, there are two levels of spray nozzles to be certain that the entire surface of the roller 2 is coated with the liquid spray.

By depressing the plungers 11 the pump mechanism forces liquid from the nozzles 9 onto the surface of the roller. The liquid in a finely divided spray then coats the surface of the heated roller and it is ready for use.

In operation, a roller having been heated to a temperature of approximately 180, is removed from its heating pin and is placed in the central passage 4 of the moistening chamber 3. The pumping mechanism is then actuated either by depressing the roller into the cup or by manually actuating a switch or pumping mechanism to deliver the finely divided mist-like spray to the surface of the heated roller. The roller is then ready for use in setting hair.

Having regard to the foregoing disclosure, the following is claimed as the inventive and patentable embodiments thereof:

ll. Hairsetter apparatus for heating hair rollers and moistening the surface of any desired number of the heated hair rollers comprising a housing; support means in said housing for holdinga plurality of hair rollers in said housing; means in said housing for heating the hair rollers while held by said support means; and a moistening assembly associated with said housing for moistening the hair rollers after heating to a desired temperature by said heating means, said moistening assembly being adapted to receive at least one of the heated hair rollers and including a reservoir for containing a liquid to moisten the surface of the heated hair rollers, and spray means communcating. with said reservoir for directing atomized, dispersed or vaporized liquid in the form of a mist-like spray at a selected hair roller, said spray means including means for mechanically atomizing, dispersing or vaporizing the liquid to be applied to the hair roller so as to deposit a coating of liquid on the surface of the hair roller whereby a user of the apparatus can selectively moisten any or all of the hair rollers after heating in the housing and selectively apply moistened or dry heated hair rollers to the hair for curling thereof.

2. Hairsetter apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said moistening assembly includes a moistening chamber housing said spray means and said reservoir.

3. I-Iairsetter apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said moistening chamber has a cavity for receiving one or more hair rollers, said spray means being disposed in said cavity.

4. Hairsetter apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said spray means includes a pump mechanism communicating with said reservoir and at least one spray nozzle communicating with said pump mechanism.

5. Hairsetter apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said spray means includes a plurality of spray nozzles for directing a spray of liquid to moisten a substantial portion of the cylindrical surface of a hair roller.

6. Hairsetter apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said spray means includes a plurality of spray nozzles directing sprays of liquid at a hair roller disposed centrally therebetween to rotate the hair roller.

7. Hairsetter apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said moistening assembly includes a moistening chamber defining a cavity for receiving a hair roller and a post centrally positioned in said cavity for receiving a hair roller whereby a hair roller received in said cavity rotates on said post in response to spray from said plurality of spray nozzles.

8. Hairsetter apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said support means in said housing includes a plurality of pins and further comprising a plurality of hair rollers mounted on said pins, said heating means being operative to heat said pins.

9. Moistening apparatus for use with hair rollers heated in a hairsetter housing comprising a moistening chamber defining a cavity for receiving at least one heated hair roller, spray means disposed in said cavity for directing an atomized, dispersed or vaporized liquid in the form of a mist-like spray at a hair'roller disposed in said cavity, said spray means including means for mechanically atomizing, dispersing or vaporizing the liquid to be applied to a hair roller; and support means for positioning a hair roller in said cavity, said support means cooperating with said spray means such that a substantial portion of the cylindrical surface of a hair roller disposed in said cavity is moistened by said mistlike spray.

10. The moistening apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said moistening chamber houses a reservoir communicating with said spray means.

11. The moistening apparatus as recited in claim 10 and further comprising means responsive to the positioning of a hair roller in said cavity to actuate said spray means.

12. The moistening apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said actuating means is a pressure switch.

13. The moistening apparatus as recited in claim 10 and further comprising manually operated means for actuating said spray means.

14. The moistening apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said moistening chamber houses a reservoir of pressurized liquid and a carrier of gas.

15. The moistening apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said spray means includes a plurality of spray nozzles disposed at spaced positions around said cavity to moisten a substantial portion of the cylindrical surface of a hair roller disposed in said cavity.

16. The moistening apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said support means includes means for rotatably supporting a hair roller disposed in said cavity such that a substantial portion of the cylindrical surface of the hair roller is moistened as the hair roller rotates.

17. The moistening apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said rotatable support means includes a post centrally positioned in said cavity. 

1. Hairsetter apparatus for heating hair rollers and moistening the surface of any desired number of the heated hair rollers comprising a housing; support means in said housing for holding a plurality of hair rollers in said housing; means in said housing for heating the hair rollers while held by said support means; and a moistening assembly associated with said housing for moistening the hair rollers after heating to a desired temperature by said heating means, said moistening assembly being adapted to receive at least one of the heated hair rollers and including a reservoir for containing a liquid to moisten the surface of the heated hair rollers, and spray means communcating with said reservoir for directing atomized, dispersed or vaporized liquid in the form of a mist-like spray at a selected hair roller, said spray means including means for mechanically atomizing, dispersing or vaporizing the liquid to be applied to the hair roller so as to deposit a coating of liquid on the surface of the hair roller whereby a user of the apparatus can selectively moisten any or all of the hair rollers after heating in the housing and selectively apply moistened or dry heated hair rollers to the hair for curling thereof.
 2. Hairsetter apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said moistening assembly includes a moistening chamber housing said spray means and said reservoir.
 3. Hairsetter apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said moistening chAmber has a cavity for receiving one or more hair rollers, said spray means being disposed in said cavity.
 4. Hairsetter apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said spray means includes a pump mechanism communicating with said reservoir and at least one spray nozzle communicating with said pump mechanism.
 5. Hairsetter apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said spray means includes a plurality of spray nozzles for directing a spray of liquid to moisten a substantial portion of the cylindrical surface of a hair roller.
 6. Hairsetter apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said spray means includes a plurality of spray nozzles directing sprays of liquid at a hair roller disposed centrally therebetween to rotate the hair roller.
 7. Hairsetter apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said moistening assembly includes a moistening chamber defining a cavity for receiving a hair roller and a post centrally positioned in said cavity for receiving a hair roller whereby a hair roller received in said cavity rotates on said post in response to spray from said plurality of spray nozzles.
 8. Hairsetter apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said support means in said housing includes a plurality of pins and further comprising a plurality of hair rollers mounted on said pins, said heating means being operative to heat said pins.
 9. Moistening apparatus for use with hair rollers heated in a hairsetter housing comprising a moistening chamber defining a cavity for receiving at least one heated hair roller, spray means disposed in said cavity for directing an atomized, dispersed or vaporized liquid in the form of a mist-like spray at a hair roller disposed in said cavity, said spray means including means for mechanically atomizing, dispersing or vaporizing the liquid to be applied to a hair roller; and support means for positioning a hair roller in said cavity, said support means cooperating with said spray means such that a substantial portion of the cylindrical surface of a hair roller disposed in said cavity is moistened by said mist-like spray.
 10. The moistening apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said moistening chamber houses a reservoir communicating with said spray means.
 11. The moistening apparatus as recited in claim 10 and further comprising means responsive to the positioning of a hair roller in said cavity to actuate said spray means.
 12. The moistening apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said actuating means is a pressure switch.
 13. The moistening apparatus as recited in claim 10 and further comprising manually operated means for actuating said spray means.
 14. The moistening apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said moistening chamber houses a reservoir of pressurized liquid and a carrier of gas.
 15. The moistening apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said spray means includes a plurality of spray nozzles disposed at spaced positions around said cavity to moisten a substantial portion of the cylindrical surface of a hair roller disposed in said cavity.
 16. The moistening apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said support means includes means for rotatably supporting a hair roller disposed in said cavity such that a substantial portion of the cylindrical surface of the hair roller is moistened as the hair roller rotates.
 17. The moistening apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said rotatable support means includes a post centrally positioned in said cavity. 